3. Major Developments

Major developments include applications for developments of 50
or more homes, as well as other applications covering areas of
development such as minerals, housing, business & industry,
waste management, electricity generation, freshwater fish farming,
marine finfish farming, marine shellfish farming and other
developments. Classification between local and major developments
depends on the particular development type. For example, housing
developments are classed as major when the application is for 50 or
more dwellings or for a site that exceeds two hectares, whereas
electricity generation is classed as major when the capacity of the
generating station is or exceeds 20 megawatts.

This section presents quarterly information on average
timescales across all major developments, along with separate
figures for the key categories of housing, business and industry
and other developments. Information on other more detailed
categories of major developments is reported on an annual rather
than quarterly basis.

3.1 All Major Developments

For applications subject to average time calculations there were
48 major applications decided during the second quarter of 2016/17
with an overall average decision time of 44.8 weeks, over five
weeks slower than the previous quarter (39.3 weeks) and the slowest
average decision time since the start of this data collection in
quarter one of 2012/13. Comparable figures for quarter two in
previous years were 28.1 weeks in 2015/16, 32.6 weeks in 2014/15,
34.1 weeks in 2013/14 and 35.2 weeks in 2012/13. (
Quarter
2, 2016/17 - Table 2)

Chart 23: All Major Developments: Number of
decisions

Chart 24: All Major Developments: Average decision time
(weeks)

It should be noted that the average time figure of 44.8 weeks
has been influenced by two very lengthy decision times (3.8 years
and 5.4 years). Without these two applications the average decision
time would be 36.2 weeks. Almost 73% of the 48 major development
applications were decided in a time that was quicker than the
average. Further information on the distribution of decision times
for major development applications is given in
Annex
A.

In addition there were a further 17 applications for major
developments concluded in quarter two of 2016/17 that were subject
to separate processing agreements. 100% of these applications met
agreed timescales that had been set between developers and local
authorities. Applications subject to processing agreements are not
included in average time calculations.

The time taken to make decisions on major applications can vary
greatly between planning authorities and average figures based on a
small number of applications can be volatile.

In quarter two of 2016/17 Aberdeenshire made the most decisions
on major developments (10 in total), three of these had an average
decision time of 30.6 weeks and a further seven major applications
had processing agreements with 100% meeting the agreed timescales
that had been set between the developer and local authority.

3.2 Major Housing Developments

Major Housing developments are those with 50 or more dwellings
or have a site area that is or exceeds 2 hectares where the
prodominant use is for housing. For applications subject to average
time calculations there were a total of 19 major housing
developments decided during the second quarter of 2016/17 and the
average decision time was 48.5 weeks, slower by one day compared to
the previous quarter (48.3 weeks). Equivalent quarter two figures
for earlier years are 34.4 weeks in 2015/16, 38.5 weeks in 2014/15,
42.8 weeks in 2013/14 and 34.8 weeks in 2012/13. (
Quarter
2, 2016/17 - Table 7)

Chart 25: Major Housing Developments: Number of
decisions

Chart 26: Major Housing Developments: Average decision time
(weeks)

Average figures based on a small number of applications can be
volatile. In this quarter there were seven applications with a
decision time of more than one year. 58% of the 19 major housing
development applications were decided in a time that was quicker
than the average. For further detail on the distribution of
decision times for major housing see
Annex
A.

In addition, there were ten major housing applications that were
subject to processing agreements with 100% of these meeting agreed
timescales.

3.3 Major Business and Industry

Major Business and Industry developments are those with floor
space that is or exceeds 10,000 square metres or have a site area
that is or exceeds 2 hectares.

There were five major business and industry developments in
quarter two of 2016/17. These had an average decision time of 33.4
weeks, quicker than the seven developments in the previous quarter
(39.1 weeks). Corresponding quarter two figures for previous years
were 11.6 weeks in 2015/16, 17.9 weeks in 2014/15, 22.5 weeks in
2013/14 and 36.1 weeks in 2012/13. (
Quarter
2, 2016/17 - Table 9)

Chart 27: Major Business and Industry Developments: Number
of decisions

Chart 28: Major Business and Industry Developments: Average
decision time (weeks)

Average figures based on a small number of applications can be
volatile. This quarter the average figure has been influenced by
one lengthy decision that took over one year. For further details
on the distribution of decision times for major business &
industry developments see
Annex
A.

In addition, there were four major business and industry
applications that were subject to processing agreements, all of
these met agreed timescales.

3.4 Major Other Developments

The category "other developments" includes any developments not
falling wholly within any of the specific categories of development
for minerals, housing, business & industry, waste management,
electricity generation, fish farming. It includes, but is not
limited to, retail, leisure and entertainment, education,
healthcare, community facilities, transport interchanges, water and
drainage developments and projects. It can also include mixed use
projects. Major other developments are where the gross floor space
of any building, structure or erection as a result of such
development is or exceeds 5,000 square metres or the area of the
site is or exceeds 2 hectares.

There were 20 major other developments in quarter two of
2016/17. These had an average decision time of 45.3 weeks, more
than fifteen weeks slower than the previous quarter (30.2 weeks)
and the slowest average decision time since the start of this data
collection in quarter one of 2012/13. Corresponding quarter two
figures for earlier years were 20.7 weeks in 2015/16, 28.7 weeks in
2014/15, 23.9 weeks in 2013/14 and 25.5 weeks in 2012/13. (
Quarter
2, 2016/17 - Table 11)

The average decision time of 45.3 weeks includes two lengthy
decisions that had decision times of 3.8 and 5.4 years. 85% of the
20 major other development applications were decided in a time that
was quicker than the average.

For further detail on the distribution of decision times for
major other developments see
Annex
A.

Chart 29: Major Other Developments: Number of
decisions

Chart 30: Major Other Developments: Average decision time
(weeks)

In addition, there were two major other developments that were
subject to processing agreements with all of these meeting agreed
timescales.